Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. reports developments around cell engineering, autonomous laboratory infrastructure, and contract research services that make biological R&D more programmable. Its updates cover Ginkgo Cloud Lab, Datapoints and Solutions services, Reconfigurable Automation Carts, Catalyst automation software, and AI-enabled workflows for protein engineering, nucleic acid design, cell-free systems, and biological manufacturing.
Company news also includes financial-results presentations, customer and research collaborations, agricultural biotechnology manufacturing work, and capital or governance updates. Following the completed divestiture of its Biosecurity business, recurring coverage centers on Ginkgo's autonomous lab strategy, remote wet-lab access, microbial strain engineering, fermentation processes, and the commercial use of lab-generated biological data.
On October 27, 2021, Arcaea, a company launched on the Ginkgo Bioworks platform, announced a $78 million Series A funding round aimed at revolutionizing the beauty industry through innovative biological products. The funding from notable investors like CHANEL and Viking Global will enable Arcaea to develop sustainable beauty ingredients using DNA sequencing and biological engineering. CEO Jasmina Aganovic emphasized the potential of biology as a tool for creative self-expression and sustainability in beauty, aiming to create a new supply chain that avoids petrochemicals.
Selecta Biosciences (Nasdaq: SELB) and Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) have partnered to create innovative enzymes aimed at treating orphan and rare diseases. This collaboration combines Selecta's ImmTOR technology, which has shown success in preclinical and clinical trials, with Ginkgo's advanced enzyme discovery capabilities. Under the agreement, Ginkgo could earn up to $85M in cash for milestone achievements and potential royalties on sales, signaling a promising step towards improving therapeutic options for patients with unmet medical needs.
Quest Diagnostics has entered an agreement with the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide COVID-19 testing services for K-12 schools, benefiting over 1,150 districts in Texas for the 2021-2022 school year. The program utilizes PCR and other nucleic acid amplification tests at Quest's clinical labs. Funding is provided through a CDC grant, ensuring no costs for schools or families. This initiative aims to promote safer in-person learning by enabling pooled testing.
Ginkgo Bioworks Inc. (NYSE: DNA) will present at the Jefferies Gene Therapy/Editing Summit on October 27, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The company focuses on a platform for cell programming applicable to various markets, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals. Ginkgo has also supported COVID-19 initiatives, including vaccine optimization and testing. Investors can access the webcast and presentation replay via the company’s investor relations website.
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA) announced participation in two upcoming conferences. On October 7, 2021, management will attend the Cowen Annual MedTools Conference at 11:15 a.m. ET. Additionally, on October 13, 2021, they will engage in a fireside chat and 1x1 meetings at the Morgan Stanley Annual Spark Conference at 5:45 p.m. ET. For more information, visit their investor relations website.
On September 17, 2021, Ginkgo Bioworks and Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. announced the successful closure of their business combination. The newly formed entity, Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc., will trade on the NYSE under the symbols 'DNA' and 'DNA.WS'. This transaction, approved by Soaring Eagle stockholders on September 14, 2021, yields over $1.6 billion in proceeds and establishes Ginkgo's enterprise value at $15 billion. Ginkgo aims to leverage its cell programming platform to revolutionize various industries and address global challenges.
Ginkgo Bioworks has reported a significant surge in revenue for the first half of 2021, totaling $88 million, a 180% increase from the previous year. The company noted strong performance across its Foundry and Biosecurity sectors, with both sectors generating $44 million each. Ginkgo's business combination with Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corp. (SRNG) is expected to finalize shortly after a shareholder meeting on September 14, 2021, potentially providing up to $2.5 billion in gross cash proceeds. Ginkgo is also set to enhance its biosecurity services amid rising COVID-19 concerns.